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FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. - The Nova Southeastern softball team (25-17, 12-6 SSC) will host their final series of the season against the Florida Tech Panthers (23-22, 8-13 SSC) at the AD Griffin Sports Complex in a three-game series on Thursday, April 17 and Friday, April 18.
The Sharks will host a single game against the Panthers at 6 p.m. on Thursday. The series will conclude the doubleheader on Friday afternoon beginning at 1 p.m. NSU enters the three-game set after receiving the news that they are ranked ninth in the initial NCAA South Region rankings. The regional rankings are used to determine the order of which teams will be selected for at large bids into the NCAA postseason. In order to receive a bid, the Sharks will likely have to move up to at least seventh in the rankings. They will have a chance to move up with regional wins over Florida Tech before a crucial season-ending series against the Rollins Tars, who currently rank fifth in the region.
NSU will present a check to the Police Athletic League (P.A.L.S.) prior to Thursday's game. P.A.L.'s program features summer and school programs for youth to stay out of trouble.
Seniors
Jennie Von Doellen (Hudson Bay, Canada),
Samira Tanaka (Sao Paulo, Brazil),
Gina Bondarenko (Pembroke Pines, Fla.),
Holly Roberson (Dunnellon, Fla.),
Melanie Spicola (Umatilla, Fla.), and
Erika Garcia (Pembroke Pines, Fla.) will be recognized prior to the first game of the doubleheader on Friday for the Sharks' designated Senior Day.
Last time out, NSU fell to No. 2 Tampa, two games to one, in their series last weekend. The Sharks' victory in game one of the doubleheader marked one of the biggest victories in program history.
A Spartans error and two hits in the bottom of the third allowed the Sharks to score the two runs needed to take the win. Spicola opened the rally with a single to left field.
Lorena Spaulding (Jr., Pembroke Pines, Fla.) beat the throw on a bunt to get on first and advance Spiocla to second. Next at-bat, Tanaka reached base on a throwing error, as Spicola sprinted around the bases to score the tying run. Garcia notched an RBI sacrifice fly that brought Spaulding home to take the 2-1 lead in the bottom of the third.
The Sharks' 2-1 win against the Spartans was sealed by Von Doellen holding the Spartans to just three hits and no runs in the game after the first inning.
The two losses dropped the Sharks to third in Sunshine State Conference standings. NSU has a lot riding on the upcoming series against Florida Tech as they fight for one of the eight bids that advance to the NCAA South Regional Tournament.
Florida Tech recently took the victory in the first win of a three-game series against Barry, 9-1, in five innings of play on Friday, April 11.
Nicole Shinsky led FIT going 3-for-4, as the one through four hitters, Elaine Brown, Brigit Godfrey and Shinsky, notched eight of the team's 10 hits in the game.
The winner of the series will move ahead all-time, as the Sharks and Panthers are tied 18-18.
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